ISO 6385:2004确立了工效学的基本原则，作为工作系统设计的基本指南，并定义了相关的基本术语。它描述了一种工作系统设计的综合方法，其中，工效学家将与参与设计的其他人合作，在设计过程中以平衡的方式关注人、社会和技术需求。 虽然ISO 6385:2004中的原则面向工作系统的设计，但它们适用于人类活动的任何领域，例如家庭和休闲活动产品的设计。

ISO 6385:2004 establishes the fundamental principles of ergonomics as basic guidelines for the design of work systems and defines relevant basic terms. It describes an integrated approach to the design of work systems, where ergonomists will cooperate with others involved in the design, with attention to the human, the social and the technical requirements in a balanced manner during the design process. While the principles in ISO 6385:2004 are oriented to the design of work systems, they are applicable to any field of human activity, e.g. in the design of products for domestic and leisure activities.